Coup-contrecoup brain injuries are a type of non-penetrative traumatic brain injury in which the force of an external trauma causes the brain to hit both sides of the inside of the skull, causing injury to opposite sides of the brain.
Traumas that may cause this type of injury include automobile accidents, sports injuries, serious falls, and assaults. Contact the Clearwater law office of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for a free initial consultation.
Defining Coup & Contrecoup Brain Injuries
Coup brain injuries are the injuries that are present in the area of the brain directly below the point of impact. For example, if a passenger hit the left side of his or her head against the dashboard in a car accident, the bruising, hemorrhage, and/or swelling on the left side of his or her brain would be considered a coup injury.
Contrecoup injuries are the injuries that occur on the opposite side of the brain from the area of the impact. In the previous example, the contrecoup injury would be present on the right side of the brain.
Sometimes, contrecoup injuries are overlooked and only the injury where the trauma occured is treated. If a contrecoup injury is not diagnosed in a timely manner, the victim could suffer long-term risks and complications, including the risk of further injury, memory problems, and more.
Are Coup-Contrecoup Injuries Serious?
Because coup-contrecoup injuries affect both sides of the brain, the risk of permanent brain damage is very high for victims. Both injuries must be promptly identified and treated in order for the patient to have the best possible outcome.
Coup-contrecoup injuries can cause a number of dangerous problems. Traumas to the head can cause skull fragments to enter the brain tissue. They may also result in hematomas (areas of bleeding) and cause swelling resulting in dangerous pressure on the brain. This type of injury can also cause problems with the flow of cerebrospinal fluid which surrounds and protects the brain.
Any trauma to the brain should be treated as a serious matter. If you or a loved one has suffered a blow to the head,your first priority should be to seek immediate medical attention. The risk of permanent damage and disability is too great to wait for a medical assessment.
The sooner a coup-contrecoup brain injury is diagnosed and treated, the better the prognosis for the patient. If a doctor failed to correctly and timely diagnose a coup-contrecoup injury, and the victim suffered further damage that may have been prevented, he or she may be liable in a medical malpractice claim.
You may be owed substantial compensation. Fill out our online consultation form to request a FREE, no-obligation consultation.
Coup-Contrecoup Signs & Symptoms
Traumatic brain injuries such as coup-contrecoup injuries can be identified by a number of telltale signs and symptoms.
These include, but are not limited to:
- Mood or personality changes
- Blurred or double vision
- Dizziness and nausea
- Headaches
- Confusion and frustration
- Anxiety or depression
- Changes in sleep patterns
As coup-contrecoup injuries most commonly affect the frontal lobe and temporal lobe (i.e. behind the forehead and underneath the temples), the most common consequences for victims include difficulty with language comprehension, speaking, decision-making, concentration, memory, balance, and coordination. Victims may also suffer muscle weakness or paralysis.
Cost of Treating a Brain Injury
The brain is the control center of the body, so any injury to the brain has the potential to completely change the way a person functions in their daily lives, their ability to work and earn a living, and their ability to interact with others.
Because the consequences of brain injuries are so far-reaching, it is unsurprising that the lifelong costs of living with and treating a brain injury are extremely high. TBIs, including coup-contrecoup injuries, can easily result in hundreds of thousands or, in some cases, even millions of dollars in damages among medical bills, lost income and earning capacity, lifelong rehabilitation or home care costs, career re-training, and more.
In addition to these financial costs, victims and their families may also suffer a severe loss of quality of life that no amount of money can ever compensate.
Victims of brain injuries shouldn’t have to be responsible for these expenses. It is crucial to retain highly qualified representation to ensure that victims are properly compensated for their losses and that their future care is secured.
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers has achieved the following results for Florida brain injury victims:
- $4,356,000.00 verdict for rear-end car accident victim who suffered a serious TBI
- $1,175,000.00 verdict for vehicle rollover/ejection victim who suffered a crushed skull
Contact a Clearwater Brain Injury Lawyer at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers
If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury as a result of someone else’s carelessness, you may have a valid TBI claim and should seek the guidance of an experienced brain injury attorney as soon as possible.
We encourage you to contact one of our personal injury attorneys at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers today to learn more about the legal options available to you. We may be able to help you get compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages and earning capacity, and more. Our Clearwater, Florida brain injury attorneys are available 24/7 to take your call at (727) 787-2500.
